Notes & Queries Archive
REPLY1851

Averia

By P.

I have long desired to know the exact meaning of *averia*, but I have not met with a good explanation until lately. It is clear, however, from the following legal expression, "*Nullus distringatur per averia carucæ.*" *Caruca* is the French *charrue*, and therefore *averia* must mean either cart-horses or oxen which draw the plough.

Topics: Legal Terminology, Historical Language, Agriculture